An American drone crashed in northern Iraq near Balad airbase on Thursday night, according to a US defense official. The crash occurred after Iran-backed militants claimed to have fired on the unmanned aircraft. The official did not disclose the specific type of drone that was lost but stated that Iraqi security forces have recovered it without any reported injuries. An investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an alliance of Iran-linked armed groups opposing US support for Israel, claimed responsibility for targeting a US MQ-9 drone operating over Iraq the day before. The MQ-9 drone is capable of surveillance and strikes. The Pentagon has reported approximately 140 attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria since mid-October, many of which have been attributed to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. In response, the US has conducted retaliatory strikes in both countries.
Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated in the region, with a US strike in central Baghdad on January 4 killing a pro-Iran commander accused of involvement in attacks on American troops. This move angered the Iraqi government, and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, supported by Tehran-aligned parties, has called for the departure of the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group from the country.
While the US has around 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the anti-IS coalition, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder stated that there have been no official requests from the Iraqi government for US forces to leave. The United States remains committed to consulting closely with Iraq on security matters.
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